Sandeel as Bait

Sandeels are a vitally important part of the marine ecosystem.

Sandeel is a term for a number of species of small fish (despite the name they are technically fish, not eels) which are found in huge numbers throughout the waters of Britain and Europe. This abundance means that almost all species of fish found around the UK will have fed on sandeels at one point or another, making them an excellent bait. The two main species of sandeel in British waters are the small lesser sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus) and the larger greater sandeel (Hyperoplus lanceolatus), along with three other relatively obscure species which live in deeper, offshore waters. The lesser sandeel is the most commonly used as bait by anglers.

Description and Habitat

Sandeels have elongated eel-shaped bodies, with a long dorsal fin running two thirds of the length of the back and a small, distinct tail. The colour is can be grey, green, blue or black on the back with a silvery-white underside. Greater sandeels (also known as launce) are usually 20 to 30cm in length, with lesser sandeels being half of this size. They generally prefer shallow, inshore waters over sandy seabeds – exactly the kind of places where anglers target fish, meaning the vast majority of fish found in these areas will be used to feeding on sandeels.

Gathering and Storing Live Sandeels

As lesser sandeels bury themselves in the sand they can be dug out of the inter-tidal zone at low tide, although gathering them can take a fair deal of effort. One method involves using a long thin hook-like device known as a vingler which is cut through the upper sections of the sand until it comes into contact with a sandeel which can then be lifted up out of the sand. Other methods involve using a push-net to scoop sandeels out of very shallow water, while other anglers have had success getting sandeels out of the sand by dragging garden rakes through wet sand very close to the low tide point.

Lesser sandeels collected to use as bait.

Live sandeels can be stored in a bucket of seawater for a few hours, although if there is too many in the bucket they will soon die due to lack of oxygen in the water, although adding fresh seawater or constantly changing the seawater can prolong their life considerably. Anglers who are serious about keeping sandeels alive can invest in a battery powered live bait aerator, or a bucket with a built in aerator – such as these available from Amazon– which will keep the sandeels alive for a much longer period of time. If none of the above methods are available then live sandeels will live for a few hours if they are wrapped in some wet newspaper and stored at the bottom of a cool box. However, the sandeels must be kept cool as rising temperature will soon see them die.

Buying Sandeels

Many anglers find it is a lot easier (and a lot less effort) to simply buy sandeels from a fishing tackle shop where they are sold in frozen form. Some companies sell sandeels in small, medium and large sizes with anglers able to chose the most appropriate size for the species they are targeting. Since sandeels are not caught for human consumption they are not available from supermarkets or fishmongers.

Sandeels bought frozen should simply be kept in the freezer and defrosted prior to going fishing. The smaller lesser sandeel are an ideal size to fit into a vacuum flask so that they can be defrosted as needed on a fishing session and any that are not used can be taken back home and put back into the freezer. Like all sea fishing baits sandeels should not be re-frozen once defrosted as they will be an inferior bait which is liable to burst and split when put onto the hook.

Lesser sandeels are too small to be caught on a rod and line but greater sandeels can caught by anglers using feathers and daylights to fish for mackerel.

Lesser Sandeel Bait Presentation

General fishing bait: The lesser sandeel is a great all round bait which can be used to catch almost all species in UK waters when it is presented on the seabed. Begin by snipping off the tail of the sandeel. This will allow the scent and juices to flow from the sandeel and attract fish. Some anglers also remove the head to allow more scent to escape, whereas others leave the head on believing this provides a more natural-looking bait.

Left: a sandeel bait presented on the hook, right: the same bait secured with bait elastic.

With the tail removed thread the sandeel onto the hook in a similar manner to a worm. If the sandeel has been freshly frozen then it should slide along the hook easily and should not split or burst. Once it is on the hook the vast majority of anglers use bait cotton or elastic to secure the sandeel to the hook and ensure that it will not come off the hook during casting. Cocktail baits can also be made with sandeels – an increasingly popular option is to wrap a sandeel in squid and then secure the bait together with bait elastic. This is very effective when targeting rays.

A dead sandeel presented as a float bait.

Float fishing sandeel: Sandeel also make a great float fished bait with pollock especially keen to take this bait, although coalfish, mackerel and a number of other species can also be caught. With this method of fishing the fish will be hunting visually. With dead/defrostedt is best to feed sandeels along the hook in the same way but have the hook exit from the middle of the sandeels belly and leave the tail intact to flow in the tide and attract fish. Live sandeel can also be used to floatfish and it is best to hook the sandeel through the tail to allow the body to move around and attract a predatory fish, which will see the sandeel moving around in mid-water..

Live baiting: Sandeels are one of the most popular species to use as a live bait. As with float fishing it is best to hook the sandeel through the tail section, although some anglers believe that it is better to put the hook though the mouth and then out just behind the gills. The main problem with live baiting is that a cast of any force will be likely to kill the sandeel, although anglers fishing from a deep rock mark or pier may be able to lob out a gentle cast and still keep the sandeel alive. Another option is to simply lower the rig baited with the live sandeel into the water, a method which can have good success off piers or deep water rock faces.

Greater Sandeel Bait Presentation

A greater sandeel caught when using feathers to catch mackerel.

The greater sandeel is a much bigger bait which can only be used whole for fishing for large fish such as bass and rays. Many anglers fishing for mackerel end up inadvertently catching greater sandeels, and then retain them for bait. As greater sandeel can be up to 30cm long they can be cut in half or the tail section cut away in order to make them a more appropriate size. Once they are at the right size they can be fed onto the hook in the same way that the lesser sandeel are. Due to the size of this bait it should be secured to the hook with bait cotton and clipped down to protect it from impact with the water. It is also a good idea to use a pennell configuration so that there is a hook at either side of the bait.